Fix: How to Sync Tuya Scenes to Google Home (And What To Do When They Don't Appear)

Have you created the perfect lighting scene or automation in your Tuya or Smart Life app, only to find it completely missing from Google Home? This is one of the most common frustrations in the Tuya ecosystem. This guide explains why this happens and provides actionable workarounds to control your Tuya automations with Google Home commands.

Table of Contents

• The Core Issue: Why Tuya Scenes Don't Sync
• Step 1: Ensure Your Basic Connection Works
• Step 2: Implement a Google Home Workaround
  • Workaround 1: Create a Google Home Routine
  • Workaround 2: Use a Virtual Switch in Tuya
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

The Core Issue: Why Tuya Scenes Don't Sync

First, it's important to understand this is a platform limitation, not a problem with your setup. The integration between Tuya/Smart Life and Google Home is primarily designed to sync individual devices (like lights, plugs, and switches).

• Scenes and Automations Stay in Tuya: Complex scenes, schedules, and automations created within the Tuya app are meant to run on Tuya's platform. Google Home cannot directly import or replicate these multi-step sequences.
• The "Tap-to-Run" Exception: There is one type of Tuya scene that might transfer: a simple "Tap-to-Run" scene. This is a basic, one-tap trigger for a device state. Even this is not guaranteed to appear in Google Home.
• A Long-Standing Gap: This limitation has been reported by users for years and reflects a fundamental difference in how the two platforms handle automation logic.

Step 1: Ensure Your Basic Connection Works

Before attempting workarounds, make sure your basic Tuya-to-Google Home link is healthy. If individual devices are missing, scenes definitely won't work.

1. Unlink Completely from Both Sides:
   • In your Tuya or Smart Life app, go to Me > Settings > Account and Security > Google Assistant and tap Unauthorize.
   • In the Google Home app, go to your profile picture > Works with Google > Find "Tuya" or "Smart Life" > Unlink.
2. Relink the Accounts:
   • In the Google Home app, tap Add+ > Set up device > Works with Google.
   • Search for and select "Smart Life" or "Tuya".
   • Log in with your Tuya/Smart Life credentials and authorize the connection. Your individual devices should sync.
3. Check Device Types: Once synced, check a device in Google Home. Tap the device's settings (gear icon) and ensure its Device Type is correctly set (e.g., "Light," "Outlet"). An incorrect type can prevent proper control.

Step 2: Implement a Google Home Workaround

Since scenes won't sync directly, you need to recreate their function within Google Home. Here are two effective methods.

Workaround 1: Create a Google Home Routine

This is the most direct method. You recreate your Tuya scene step-by-step as a Google Home Routine.

1. Open the Google Home app and go to Routines > +.
2. Add Starter: Choose how to start it. For voice control, select "Voice command" and type a phrase like, "Hey Google, activate movie night."
3. Add Action: Tap "Add action" > "Adjust home devices".
4. Select all the individual Tuya devices involved in your scene (e.g., Living Room Lamp, TV Backlight) and set their desired state (On/Off, brightness, color).
5. Save the routine. Now, saying your voice command will trigger all the device adjustments at once, mimicking your Tuya scene.

Workaround 2: Use a Virtual Switch in Tuya

This method is useful for more complex Tuya automations that involve sensors or delays, which Google Routines can't handle directly.

1. Create a "Tap-to-Run" in Tuya: In your Tuya app, create a new Tap-to-Run scene. Add all the actions your complex automation requires.
2. Add a Virtual Switch: You need a virtual or "dummy" switch device. Some third-party apps or platforms (like Home Assistant) can create these. Add this virtual switch to your Tuya app.
3. Link the Two: Edit your Tap-to-Run scene. Add a final action: turn the virtual switch ON (or OFF). The virtual switch now acts as a trigger flag.
4. Sync to Google Home: The virtual switch should sync to Google Home as a simple on/off device.
5. Create a Google Routine: Make a Google Routine where your voice command (e.g., "Hey Google, start the alarm") turns on the virtual switch.
6. When you give the command, Google turns on the virtual switch, which triggers the Tap-to-Run scene in Tuya, executing your full, complex automation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Will my Tuya scenes ever automatically appear in Google Home?

It is very unlikely based on the long-standing design of the integration. The platforms treat automation differently. For reliable control, plan to use one of the workarounds described above.

I heard "Tap-to-Run" scenes sync. Why don't mine show up?

Even simple Tap-to-Run scenes are not consistently or reliably transferred to Google Home. Their appearance can be unpredictable. The Google Home Routine method is a much more dependable alternative.

My individual Tuya devices are also missing from Google Home. What should I do?

Follow the foundational steps in this guide to completely unlink and relink your Tuya account in Google Home. Also, check within the Tuya app's device settings to confirm the device officially supports Google Assistant integration.

Is there a better long-term solution than these workarounds?

For advanced, reliable automation that bridges different ecosystems (Tuya, Google, Alexa, etc.), consider using a dedicated smart home hub platform like Home Assistant or SmartThings. These platforms can integrate devices from many brands and create complex automations that you can then expose to Google Home for voice control.

Conclusion: While you cannot directly sync Tuya scenes to Google Home, you are not without options. By ensuring a solid device connection and using Google Home Routines (or the advanced virtual switch method), you can successfully voice-control your Tuya automations. For the most powerful setups, exploring a unified hub platform may be the best path forward.